Shirt Sleeve Construction

ABSTRACT

A long sleeve shirt construction that incorporates a stretch panel in the sleeve. The stretch panel extends part or all of the length of the sleeve. The stretch panel extends around a portion of the circumference of the sleeve either with a constant width or tapered and is positioned at the underside of the sleeve. Optionally, the sleeve includes a hold tab for retaining the sleeve in the rolled up position.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shirts, more particularly, to longshirt sleeves.

2. Description of the Related Art

Battle dress uniform (BDU) is a generic term that identifies fatiguesused as the standard uniform for combat situations. BDUs are also usedby other groups, such as US federal, state, and local law enforcementagencies, that may work in tactical situations, such as the DEA andSWAT.

BDU shirts are made with long sleeves. Typically, the sleeve is wider atthe shoulder than at the cuff. When the weather changes, wearers musttake the shirt off in order to roll the sleeve up or down because therolled material gets too tight around the bicep. Because the cuff isnarrower than the upper part of the sleeve, the sleeve material isbunched under the cuff when rolled up, constricting the wearers upperarm.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve that is easierto roll up and down and that is less constricting than sleeves of theprior art.

The present invention is a long sleeve shirt construction thatincorporates a stretch panel in the sleeve. The stretch panel allows thesleeve to stretch its circumference so the sleeve can be quickly rolledup or down.

The stretch panel extends either the full length of the sleeve or alongonly part of the length of the sleeve. The stretch panel extends arounda portion of the circumference of the sleeve and is wide enough so thatthe sleeve can be rolled easily without causing constriction at theupper arm. The width of the stretch panel is generally constant, but cantaper from one end to the other. Typically, the stretch panel is on theunderside of the sleeve.

The stretch panel is composed of a material has some stretch, such asstretch knits and woven fabrics with mechanical stretch or that containschemical power stretch yarns.

Optionally, the sleeve includes a hold tab for retaining the sleeve inthe rolled up position. The tab is attaches to the inside of the sleeve.A removable fastener secures the tab to the sleeve or shoulder.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light ofthe following drawings and detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the presentinvention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shirt with a set-in sleeve incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a shirt with a raglan sleeve incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of the underside of the shirt sleeve of the presentinvention showing alternate configurations;

FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of the shirt sleeve of the presentinvention showing alternate configurations;

FIG. 5 is a view of the underside of the shirt sleeve of the presentinvention showing alternate configurations; and

FIG. 6 is a front, cross-sectional view of the shirt sleeve of thepresent invention rolled up with the optional hold tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention incorporates a stretch panel 38 into a BDU orother shirt long sleeve 12. The stretch panel 38 allows the sleeve 12 tostretch its circumference so the sleeve 12 can be quickly rolled up ordown. This is particularly important when it is impractical to removethe shirt 10 in order to roll the sleeve 12 up or down.

Also, instead of having a very bulky roll at the bicep when the wearerrolls the long sleeve up, the stretch panel 38 allows the sleeve 12 tobe tapered so that the roll is minimized and barely wider than the armat the bicep.

Example long sleeve shirts 10 incorporating the present invention areshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the shirt with set-in sleeves of FIG. 1, theshirt torso 14 consists of a pair of front portions 16, a yoke 18 overthe shoulders, a back portion 20, and a collar 22. A front placket 24has buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or other fastener for closing thefront of the shirt 10. Sleeves 12 attach to the torso 14 at the shoulder32 by a shoulder seam 34 and extend from the shoulder seam 34 to a freeend 36.

In the shirt with raglan sleeves of FIG. 2, the shirt torso 14 consistsof a pair of front portions 16, a back portion 20, and a collar 22. Afront placket 24 has buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or other fastenerfor closing the front of the shirt 10. Sleeves 12 attach to the torso 14by a raglan seam 44 from the underarm to the collar 22. The sleevesextend from the collar 22, over the shoulder 32, to a free end 36.

The free end 36 can be with or without a cuff 28 and the cuff 28 can beclosed or open. Open cuffs 14 can be closed by hook-and-loop fastenersas in FIG. 1, buttons as in FIG. 2, snaps, hooks, zippers, etc. It iscontemplated that the present invention can be used with any type oflong sleeve 12. The term, free end, denotes the actual end of the sleeve12 when there is no cuff, as in FIG. 4, or a closed cuff 28, as in FIG.5, and the end of the main portion 42 of the sleeve 12 at the cuff 28when there is an open cuff 28, as in FIG. 3.

The stretch panel 38 typically extends the length of the sleeve 12, fromthe shoulder 32 to the free end 36, as in FIGS. 1-4. Optionally, thestretch panel 38 extends along only part of the length of the sleeve 12.For example, the stretch panel 38 can extend part way to the free end 36from the shoulder 32, part way to the shoulder 32 from the free end 36,as in FIG. 5, or it can be positioned between the shoulder 32 and freeend 36 without reaching either one.

The width of the stretch panel 38, the amount that it extends around thecircumference of the sleeve 12, is wide enough so that the sleeve can berolled easily without causing constriction at the upper arm. The widthof the stretch panel 38 ranges from approximately 1½ inches toapproximately 10 inches but typically less than half of thecircumference of the sleeve 12. The width of the stretch panel 38 isgenerally constant, as in FIG. 3. The term “generally constant” takesinto account that there can be some variation in the width of thestretch panel 38 due to tolerances in manufacturing, the difference insleeve circumference at the shoulder 32 and at the free end 38, andother such variables. The present invention also contemplates that thewidth of the stretch panel can taper between the shoulder 32 and freeend 36, either larger at the shoulder 32 or larger at the free end 36,as in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The stretch panel 38 can be located anywhere around the circumference ofthe sleeve 12, but will typically be on the underside of the sleeve 12,as in the figures, where it is least visible.

The main portion 42 of the sleeve 12 extends over the remainder of thesleeve, that is, the portion of the length and circumference of thesleeve that the stretch panel 38 does not extend over.

The present invention contemplates that the stretch panel 38 may becomposed of many different materials, as long as the material has somestretch. Contemplated panel materials include stretch knits (mesh orclosed type) with mechanical stretch or containing spandex or similarchemical power stretch yarns, and woven fabrics with mechanical stretchor containing spandex or similar chemical power stretch yarns. The panelmaterial ranges from a minimum weight of approximately 2.5 oz per squareyard to a maximum of approximately 12.5 oz per square yard.

The stretch panel 38 is attached to the main portion 42 of the sleeve 12by any type of seam 40 that is appropriate for the materials of the mainportion 42 and stretch panel 38. Examples include a four or five threadoverlock safety stitch, a single needle lockstitch, a lap felled, welt,or french seam, and/or a flat undergarment seam type (lap seam withcoverstitch).

Optionally, the sleeve includes a hold tab 50 for retaining the sleeve12 in the rolled up position, as in FIG. 6. The tab 50 is a length ofmaterial attached to the inside of the sleeve 12 or shoulder 32 that isaccessible when the sleeve 12 is rolled up. A removable fastener 52secures the tab 50 to the sleeve 12 or shoulder 32. One component 54 ofthe fastener 52 is at the free end 36 of the tab 50 and the matingcomponent 56 is on the outside of the sleeve 12 or shoulder 32. Theremovable fastener 52 can be any type of removable fastener, includingbuttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, etc. The tab 50 and/or sleeve12 or shoulder 32 can have multiple fastener components 54, 56 so thatthe tab 50 is adjustable to different rolled-up sleeve lengths.

Thus it has been shown and described a shirt sleeve construction whichsatisfies the objects set forth above.

Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, it is intended thatall matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

1. A shirt comprising: (a) a torso and a pair of long sleeves extendingfrom said torso at a shoulder, each of said sleeves having a length fromsaid shoulder to a free end, a circumference, and an underside; (b) eachof said sleeves having a main portion and a stretch panel, said stretchpanel extending at least over a portion of said length and a portion ofsaid circumference, said main portion extending over the remainder ofsaid sleeve, said stretch panel composed of a stretchable material. 2.The shirt of claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an open cuff and saidstretch panel extends to said free end at said cuff.
 3. The shirt ofclaim 1 wherein said panel extends said length.
 4. The shirt of claim 1wherein said panel is positioned on said underside of said sleeve. 5.The shirt of claim 1 wherein said portion of said circumference of saidsleeve extended over by said stretch panel has a generally constantwidth.
 6. The shirt of claim 1 wherein said portion of saidcircumference of said sleeve extended over by said stretch panel tapers.7. The shirt of claim 1 wherein said stretchable material has amechanical stretch.
 8. The shirt of claim 1 wherein said stretchablematerial contains chemical power stretch yarns.
 9. A shirt comprising:(a) a torso and a pair of long sleeves extending from said torso at ashoulder, each of said sleeves having a length from said shoulder to afree end, a circumference, and an underside; (b) each of said sleeveshaving a main portion and a stretch panel, said stretch panel extendingover said length and a portion of said circumference with a generallyconstant width, said stretch panel positioned on said underside of saidsleeve, said main portion extending over the remainder of said sleeve,said stretch panel composed of a stretchable material.
 10. The shirt ofclaim 9 wherein said portion of said circumference of said sleeveextended over by said stretch panel tapers.
 11. The shirt of claim 9wherein said stretchable material has a mechanical stretch.